Kindling wood



3 Sheets---Sheet 1.

F. MYERS. MACHINE FOR BUNDLING KINDLING WOOD.

Patented Feb 11, 1868.

F. MYERS. MACHINE FOR BUNDLING KINDLING WOOD.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 74,407. Patented Feb. 11, 1868.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. MYERS. MACHINE FOR BUNDLING KINDLING WOOD. No. 74,407,

Patented Feb. 11, 1868.

E a l mtnh tstns fimmfftrr.

- Lettei's 2mm: No. 74,407, dated'Febz-um'y [11,1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAGHINESYFOR BUNDLING KINDLI'NG-WOOD.

dip fithzhnle nfemh it in than Enticrzifiatmt ant making met at the sinus.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY coNoERir;

Be itlmown that I, FREDERICK MYERS, of the city, county, and State of N ew-York, have invented a. new and improved Machine for Bundling and Tying Kindli'ng-Fag'ots; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- .Figure lis s transverse'verticel section through middle'oi the mcchine.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the same, throughthe lin'e a; w, fig, -1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the' parts below the line 3 y, fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a detail section of the clamps.

- Figure 5 is a detail side elevation oi the-chute.

Figure 6 is a. bundle of the'fegots bound with the wire.

- Figure 7 is a detailview of catch in the bottom of the boxes;

Figure 8is a detail view of a portion of one of the clamps, exhibiting the points for confining the wire.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding ports.

This invention, relates to an improved machine for bundling and tying fagots of kindling-wood in a form ready for sale. It consists of boxes passing under a chute, from which they recei-ve'the fagots, and conveying the shmeto a position over movable clamps. The bottoms, 'd', of the boxes, being provided with hinges, i, then open and discharge the wood into the clamps," which are thenclo'sc'd by the action of cams," A binding-wire then passes around the wood in a groove in the clamps, and is cut ofi' and 1ocked.- The clamps then relax slightly, and the bundle of fogots thus made is delivered from the clamps by means of a plunger-disk acting a'gl inst the side of the bundle, thereby thrusting the latter on to a slide,,by which it is delivered from the machine. p

The operations of the'severel parts producing this result will now he more fully explained.

A A A AA are rollers, revolving on shafts A A' A A' A, and earrying an endless belt, B, said rollers having bearings'iu the general frame, 0, of the machine. Boxes D are attached to the mild belt. A chute, E,

in alfixed position obovethe frame, is pr'ovidedwith guides, c, forming a slot, e, in which movable bottoms, e"

' and e, slide. The boxes D pass under this chute, and the .forwordend' of the pussingbo'x strikes against the bottam n and pushes it along on itsguides, thus removing the said bottomfrem under the chute Em n letting down quantity of wood fa'gots into the box. -As the tilled box passes 'on, the bottom, e'.-',-is made to follow'closely after, and in contoctwith' the rear end of the box, so that thethr-oat oithe'chuto is not leftan instant open. This following motion of the bottom,', isaccomplish'ed by. meansof-e slotted plate, j,-'pivoted l to atj', fig. 5, and in the slot of soid plat-ethe pin?" of the bottom, 0'', travels the'e'ntire length of the slot, thus allowing the bottom, e", to move the required distancebefore it draws the bcttom, e' after it. LA spring of rubber ormetalL-theformer being the'better mate'rialis attached to'the pinsr on the bottom, .e, the other end of said spring being secured to some fixed point, as the plate P. One of thesesprings is shown in fig. 5, and lettered o. The function of this spring is tobring back, by it-scontractile tension, the bottom, 0, to its normal positionunder the throat of the chute, when it has, b y ascending the inclined portion of its slide, become disengaged from the forward end of the box'D. The said bottoms travel in their slides by means of pins 1''" W, the in number on each side of each bottom, whereby the latter can pass the angles] in the slides. A continuous tongue working in the slide would not pass the said-angles. When theibottom, e", passes from underheath tliechute and enters the inclined part of the slide, it is borne upward from the box, and the edge of the n isat length disengaged from the box by ris iug above the latter, and, obeying the tension of the spring -e, 'flies bizck'to its first position, which closes the lower throat of the chute. In doing so, it strikes forcibly l-gnfn'st the bottom, 11 (which was drawn by the said slotted plate), so as to close the chute immediately after the filledbox passed forward) forcingjt back, when both bottoms are thenin position to repeat their functions.

when another box passes. The guides e are attached-to the chute, as shown in fig. 5, the plate P serving to secure the rear end of the under, one. Standards E support the chute on the frame, as shown. Theses'tanderds jhave slots, u, fig. 5, which allow the chute, by means of a clamp-screw, u", to be. s.djust1d up or down, thus regulating the c'ontact oftheboxfwith the edge of the bottom, e. The chute is inc1ined,-so' that thefagots may slide down regularly and fall parallel to each other into the boxes fend the inclination. serves at the same-time to prevent the'i'agots from pressing tooheavily upon the bottoms, .t'lins'hindering their action. This chute is designed to take the .fagot from a splitting-machine now in-use-, w;hio'n has knives acting laterally against the seven-block, whereby the fa ets fall intothe chute and slide downfit sidewise to the throat.

I will now describe the other parts, which not in connection with thpse above described. G G are the clamps for holding the wood. They-are smicircnlar,'and are pivoted together at u by a pivot passing through the plate-g, as shown at fig. 2.. The clamps have projections, g, working in slots, g, in the bottom plate y,- figs; 2 and 3, forthe purpose of stead'ying them r "are. friction-rollers,working on pivots r 1', through lugs on the exterior of'the clamps. IIare toothed wheels, on theirrespective shafts F F. Cams E E are keyed on the aaid'shafts F F. The wheel H receives its 'motifon from a pinion, K, keyed on a shaft, L, at the extremity of which is attached h. crank-wheel, M, with its crank-handle M, both shown in dotted lines, though in practice thecrlank-wheelis substituted fora pulley, for the application-of stoam or other power- I is an idle-wheel, for-transmitting themotion from H to H whereby the cam E and other parts nreoperated. This wheel'I'is on the end'of a shaft, I having bearings,-I", in the frame G, fi 2. The teeth of H engage with a toothed wheel, J, keyed on thesame shrift, A, as the roller A", whe reby the belts'B, working on A,

and the rollers A, are moved. These wheels and rollers have hearings in -the general frame C, as shown, and

which do not requireminute description. Though .the,camsrevolve in different directions, they are keyed on their shafts in such correlation with the clamps and each other, that they will present the-samepoint of each to the rollers r, and actuate the clamps with the same degree of force at the same. tiine. .The elampsare provided with springs, a, following the general contour of the cam, and form the bearing-surface of'the snme- These springs are'bolted to the. earn-at s, figs. 1 and 4, and pass around to the screws, near the point of the cam.

-A.sloti s, in the spring .9, which encloses the necks of the screws 8', allowsthem ayielding motion on the said screws. Theobject of this spring is'to furnish a yielding surface to the profile of the cam, so that if, from anylj cause, such as knotsin the fagots, the clamps do not shut completely, the cams will pass by the rollers {,w'ith outinjury, closing-the cams as much as may be, thus allowing the machine to continue its work without stoppage. .A 'spring,-.c, on the meeting face of the clamp G, as shown in figsrl and 4, prevents any of the'fagots" from rising, when the clamps, from thec'auses aforesaid, do not close completely. "The boxes, four in number,

are' arrnnged'on the belt in the relative positions shown, nnd'when. so arranged-will pass in harmony with the other parts of the machine when the whole is in operation. p

Fig"? shows the action of an arm, 1;, fixed with frame 0, which'disengages thelspring-catch a forholding the bottom, d, of the be; shut. ,And the' 'said arm is so situated that this disengagement will take place when the box is immediately over the cl amps,' wh'ich lattor, from their own vweight, stand open when not actuated by; the cams, as beforo1descri-bed. The box receives its fagots from the chute, and is borne on -the belts-B tq-tha.

point over the clamps, and the arm, just described, liberates the catch a, when the bottom, d, swings downward and the fagots fall into tho'clamps. The box then passes on, andthe cams E E, coining in contact with the rollers r'r, close the clamps'G G',whi ch hold the'wood firmly therein. A,spool,-N, figs l and 3, contains the binding-wire n wound thereon. This spool revolves on a. vertical spindle fixed in the plate N, standingout. from the frame 0, as shown. This wire is drawn oil from the spool by the r'ollers h It, between which it passes,

and is conducted on through the hollow shaft 10 of this bevel-pinionsX and"O,'figs. 1 and 3. Emerging thence,

' it passes on between the edge of a cutter, f, and a'notched-pl'ate, Z, for receiving the points of the said cutter.

Passing on, it enters a. slot, m,.in' a vertical spindle, m, figs. 1 and 3. After passing through this slot, the wire,

continues along over a lifter, n,1wofrking in.the groove of the clamp G, and finally enters the groove, passing I around in it, and also around the exterior of the body of fagots, which the said groove surrounds, as shown at fig. 4. The wire then emerges from the groove, and agi'tin passes through the slot m, as shown in fig.' 4 also. The cutter f I then is thrust in and severe the .wire, after which .the. bevel-wheel O, 'to' which the spindle m is fixed, revolves and twists the ends of' the wire, thuslockingits ends securely, as show nnt fig. 6.

The wheels connecting with and actuating the rollers whio'hlmove-the .wireythe cutter, and'twisting-spindle,

will be hereinafter described. v g V I The groove in the clampspis shown, with the wire lying therein in 'a. detail section, atfig. 4, where also can be seen the lifter n pivoted, as shown intheclamp G, and having a bent arm,-n", (see corresponding part of fig. 1,) where this lever 19 is shown pivoted to slug, 9', attached to the frame 0. Apin, b, standing out horizontally from the side of the ,cam E strikes against the lever 11, when the cam revolves, and, by the said.

connections, the lifter 'n is thrown up, bearing with it the wire n, so that the two ends ofthe wires (for the lifter does not rise till the cutter hashsevercd thawirelaro brought together ftmtwisting. The clamps are formed each of three-pieces bolted'togeth'er, as shown by the sections of rivets, 1, 2, 3, 4, figs. 1 an d4. The middlepiece, being narrower than the outer ones, loavesthe aforesaid groove, which surrounds the fagots when in the clamps, and permits the wire tovpass freely around the former. Two, small projecting points, stand- .ing out from the inner faces of the groove, prevent: the wire from springing, so that its passing end willnot' catch against any ofthe fagots. Thendmber of the s'o may be increased, if found desirable. These-points are located at 6",fig. 1,.and are shown attached to the clamp G b at fig. 8, that point being found, by experiment, the place where they are needed.

A nut and spring, N,. figs. 1 and 3,'on the spool N, enables'the latter'to be adjusted with reference to itsfriction, whereby the wire is drawn off with greater or' less facility, as cireu'mstancesmay require, The spindle m enters the'clamp G in an opening, m, in the lattergfigs. 1, 2, and 4. A half wheel, S, shown dotted in fig. 1, is keyed-on tho'shaft F. Its teth engage with n. pinion, T, fig. 3, on a shaft, it, held in bearings, t, as shown. At the end of the shaft t is the roller h, which,-in connection with a similar one immediately be low it, draws the wire from the spool and pushes it on through the hollow shaft p an'd the grooves, in the clamp2,r.s

before described. A small pinion, t, engages with a similar one attached to the lower roller It, and gives the latter motion. A quarter-wheel, H H, shown tintcd'in fig. 1, is keyed on the shaft F, and its teeth engage, in revolving, with those of a pinion, U, on a shaft, to, having bearings, W W, fig. 3. On the end of this shaft is a bevel-pinion, W, which gears into the bevel-pinion X, on the. aforesaid hollow shaft p. This pinion has a hole to correspond with the bore of the said shaft, or is sct on the end of the shaft, as shown in fig. 1. At the opposite end of this shaft 12 is another bevel-pinion, O, cngagingwith a similar one, 0, (see fig. 1,) to which latter is attached the-vertical twisting spindle 'm, before described; and when U is revolved, the spindle m is simultaneously turned by the revolution of the intervening bevel-gears. p

The half-wheel S and the quarter-wheel H, when set on the shaft in the position shown in fig. 1, and in this correlation with the other parts, will engage with their respective pinions T and U, and cause the timely revolution of the. latter to draw aiid push the wire, and lock the same when cut oil, in the manner before described. The cutter fis pivoted o a lever, f, at f, the said lever b'eing pivoted to the frame at f. An arm, Q, the dotted outline of which is shown in fig. 1, is keyed on the shaft F, and when in the position shown, will, in revolving, strike against the oblique edge of thelever f, and cause the latter to thrust the cuttingpointloi the cutter fagainst the wire at and the notched plate Z, thereby securing the former. On each side of the clamps are plates,t' and i, fig. 2, the distance of which plates apart corresponds to the length of the fagots, and are for holding them properly in the clamps, so that their ends shall be even when clamped and bound. The plate 5 isprovided with a circular door, 1", hinged to the plate at v. The plate 1 has a circular disk, 0'', not hinged, but supported centrally by an arm,,V, bolted to an upright, V", forming part of a horizontal bar, V, supporting the whole. This bar has a longitudinal motion in guides BB, forming part of the plate 13, by which the guides are secured to the frame C. The disk 2" is thus provided with a horizontal motion, and by this motion the bundles of fagots are thrust out of the clamps, when the wire is locked, and the clamps relaxed, as before mentioned. The door 1'' is provided with a spring at its hinge, v, exerting its tension to keep the door vertical, but suiliciently yielding to permit the bundle of fagots to be thrust out by the disk z". The door is borne down to the position shown by the red lines in fig. 2, whereby it forms a slide connectingwith the apron Z, which latter delivers the weed out of the machine. This plunger or disk z" is operated by means of an arm, R, on the shaft F, which arm, in revolving, strikes against a lever, V, which is pivoted at m to an upright, m", standing on and forming part of s. projection, m, figs. 1 and 3, from the said plate 13. A vertical spring, q, returns the lever V, and consequently the disk t", to their usual positions after the arm R has passed. The plates z'and i are bolted to the frame-bottonr C by bolts 0, as shown at fig. 2.

The drawings exhibit the relative positions of all the movable parts of the machine, and when so arranged the, cams, wheels, boxes, cutter, plunging-disk, and other devices will perform their diil'erent functions at the proper time,and without interference with the other parts 'or with each other.

When the boxes pass from over the clamps, after having discharged the fagots therein, the bottoms, d, are thrown up and spring into the catch a,before described, as each one passes over the roller A. If, as is sometimes the case, they do not catch then, a broad spring, M, consisting of a bent metallic sheet; having the vertical part, M bolted to the frame 0, as shown in fig. 1, presenting a surface immediately underneath the chute, and between the belts B, comes in contact with the box-bottom d and closes it. The end which thus comes in contact with the bottom, (I, is over the roller, as shown in the drawing, and closes the bottom before the box comes in position under the chute. Theboxes are attached to the belt by clasp's at middle points between the ends of the boxes, so that they can pass over the rollers without straining the belt, as shown at D, fig. 1.

.The'working size of this machine is aboat five or six feet'long, and the other dimensions in proportion, the frame, rollers, and chute being built of wood, and the other parts of steel and iron.

The advantages-of this machine consist in the rapidity with which it performs the work, thus dispensing with the great number of persons required heretofore for handling and tying fagots of kindling-wood. for market. The cost ofthe wire is estimated to be less than the hemp-strings now used.

I am aware that a machine for tying kindling-wood has been invented, but its construction and mode of operation are totally dissimilar from mine. The machine spoken of has removable boxes, requiring-a number of attendants to keep them filled by hand. They are then carried and placed in the machine, which passes the wire around the handle. This machine has no resemblance to mine in any feature, and has been found impracticable and worthless.

I am aware that the bottoms of coal-cars have beep so arranged as-to trip and discharge their contents, but

' this I do not claim.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The. grooved semicircular clamps G G, constructed as described, pivoted together and to the standards g at u, and provided with projections g, pivoted lifter 1)., spring c, and points 6", all operating as described, for the purpose specified.

2. The grooved semicircular clamps G G in combination with the spring-cams E 'E, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

8. The boxes D, upon the endless belts B, constructed as described, having the hinged bottoms d, operated by tlic'catch a and arm 6 to permit the fagots to fall between the jaws G G, constructed and operating, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. The guide e, having the angular slot e, in combination with the chute E, sliding bottoms a" e, angular slotted plate j, and spring 0, substantially as described, for the purpose specified. I

5. The combination of the rollers h h, hollow shaft 10, bevelled gears X, bevel-gears O W, the latter upon shaft to, slotted spindle in; shaft t, segmental gear-wheel S, and the wire-cutter f, substantially as described, for the purpose specified:

6. 'The plungirg-disk i, dupported centrally upon I the arm'v by means of the right-angulan arm V" V,

and operated through the plate z'hy'means of the pivoted spring-leyer V and arm R upon shaft F, constructed tooperate as herein nescriberl, for the purpose epecified.

7. The spring-door i, hinged to the Vertical plate i", and operated bymeans of the Iagors passing between the clamps G G, under the impulse of the plunger i, substantially as herein shown and described. 8. The lifting-lever n, for lifting the severecl end of the fa-got-wire n, substantially ah shown and described- 9., The spring M', for closing the bottom, d, of the fngot-hoxes, substantially as hown and described.

' FREDERICK MYERS.

Witnesses: 7

WM. F. MONAMARA, ALEX. F. Ronnms. 

